Bustle



(No Model.)

A. M. BELDEN.

BUSTLE.

Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNIE MAOY BELDEN OF FAIRBURY, ILLINOIS.

BUSTLE.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,332, dated January 12. 1886.

Application filed October 10, 1885. Serial No. 179,486.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANNIE MAOY BELDEN, of Fairbury, in the county of Livingston and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bustles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the .art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in bustles; and it consists in the combination of a band or belt, which goes around the waist, and supports the bustle in position, a series of vertical spiral springs of suitable size, and a covering which is applied to them, with transverse spiral springs, which extend over the outer side of the vertical springs and have their ends to project beyond the front edges of the spiral springs, so as to prevent the skirts from dropping in at these points, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a bustle which will adapt itself to the position of the wearer, folding up when the wearer is sitting down, and returning to its normal position when the wearer rises, and which is provided with transverse springs for the purpose of preventing the skirts from falling in at the front edges of the vertical springs, and which is also provided with a removable covering for the springs, so that the covering can be removed at any time and laundered.

The accompanying drawing is a perspective of a bustle embodying my invention.

A represents the band or belt, which goes around the wearers Waist, and to which the other portions of the bustle are secured. The spiral springs B are incased within suitable pockets, a, which are sewed at their upper ends to the belt A, as shown, and which pockets a and springs B are fastened by means of the strings or cords b. Any other suitable fastening device than the cords b may be used, if so desired. By making these springs B removable from the pockets the pockets and belt can be laundered at any time.

In order to prevent the skirts from dropping (No model.)

in at the front edges of the vertical springs B, v the transverse springs G are stretched across the outer side of the spiral springs B, and the ends of the springs G are made to project a suitable distance beyond the front edges of the vertical springs, as shown, and are then connected to the belt A. The springs G are also inelosed in pockets or coverings G, from which they can be readily removed whenever so desired. These pockets 0 and springs G are detachably connected to the band or belt A by cords or strings, so that they can also be removed at any time and laundered.

A bustle constructed as above described will adapt itself to the position of the wearer, folding up when she sits down or leans against any object, and returning to its normal position when relieved of allpressure. The small transverse spiral springs extending across and projecting beyond the front edges of the vertical spiral springs prevent the skirts from dropping at the front edges of the vertical springs and into the spaces between the vertical springs, and thus keep the skirts in shape at all times.

Having thus described my invention, 1'

in the pockets, and the springs G, extending across the outer sides of the springs B and connected at their ends to the belt, the ends of the springs G being made to form supports for the skirts beyond the front sides of the springs B, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the belt A, the pockets a, connected thereto, the springs B, the cords D, the transverse pockets 0, and the springs G, placed in the pockets 0, the front ends of the springs G being fastened to the belt in advance of the springs B, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANNIE MAOY BELDEN.

WVitnesses:

E. B. BELDEN, EMMA J. WHITNEY. 

